My MK's like dirt...

My first attempt at movie-making: An afternoon mountain biking adventure- I strapped my camera to my backpack chest strap, and a bumpy ride later and a few hours of editing, here's what I came up with! Hope the sound works!

MK gear: M's Snake River Shorts from Snake River Collection

UPDATE: Snake River Collection is now Granite Creek! New name, same great short!

Day 100: A normal day

Wore my MK's to school, had a cookie-dough and coffee shake to celebrate! Sorry, no photos!

Day 98: Spring Bird Count

Today was the annual Illinois Spring Bird Count. I helped out in Jersey County, leading a group around and counting birds!  The results haven't been compiled yet, but my group saw about 65 species throughout the day. Nothing too unusual, just the regular spring migrants. It was a great day for the Original Mountain Pants. It's almost too warm for pants, but tromping around in the woods is best done in MK's... (and Chacos)

Day 96: Gunpowder and Lead

This afternoon my Mountain Khakis got their first taste of gunpowder at the handgun range. I'm pretty sure I was the only person there not in denim jeans, but heads did turn as I walked to my shooing lane wearing my MK's and carrying a 9mm. I think a picture or video would have been cool to post, but we were having so much fun shooting that it kind of slipped my mind... Here's a shot we did get during the "cease fire".

Four more "official" days! This weekend is going to be a big "birding" weekend- I am participating in the Illinois Spring Bird Count, where we cover as much ground in the county as possible and count- literally, every bird we see and hear. Hopefully we'll push 120+ species for the day! Look for that post later this weekend!

Cheers!

Day 93: Chalk on the Shorts

This afternoon lived up to the weather forecast (surprise!) so with thunderstorms moving in I decided it wasn't a day to go on the river, or on the trails. (My bike has a flat, anyways) Looks like a good week to be outside!

So, I hit the gym with my climbing buddy and we worked on some new routes and had a good time. 

                                        

92: A Quick Climb

Today I spent most of the day doing homework. Using arcMAP and other GIS software isn't as easy as I thought! However, I took a quick break in the afternoon to climb at the gym. Here's a quick post-action photo of the SR shorts. This is going to be a good week!

Days 89-91: Bluffs, Barges, and Birds

Life has been full here recently in Southern Illinois. That's a good thing I guess. These past few days have been especially busy, as midterms only come once a quarter! These past few days have been pretty heavy academically, but I've been able to lighten the load by getting outside when the weather has cleared up. 

I have been working on my Senior Capstone research with the Peregrine Falcon, and spent many hours Friday hanging out "literally" on the bluffs, trying to confirm nesting success. Unfortunately, repelling over the top of the 100 foot+ high cliff isn't doable with how degraded the limestone is, so I've had to get creative. I was able to gather some good data and witness the male exchanging food with the female, which confirms nesting behavior! Exciting...

Saturday I spent birding in St. Louis with a professor friend, we hit Tower Grove Park at just the right time, as many of the neotropical migrants were moving through... We saw just over 50 birds for the day, and I was rewarded with a bird I've never seen before: a Blue-headed Vireo, land right above me! 

Needless to say, my Mountain Khakis have been treating me well. I have been enjoying the OMP's as the weather has stayed cooler this past week, and they have provided the protection from the brush as I've been bushwacking in the mornings, and then look sharp for class. My Snake River shorts are back in the game after being in the laundry for a few days after my latest exploits through poison ivy. All clean now, for the beautiful weather next week!

Enjoy some recent photos from the past few days! This next week will be a good one! 

Cheers.

A Great Blue Heron